PHUKET: A daring Phuket bank robber held a knife to the ribs of a female teller then rode off on a motorcycle with two million baht in cash in Karon tonight.

Siam Commercial Bank staffer Wilaikan Khaw-Ong, 26, should have been enjoying a day off but she was called in to work to replace a colleague who fell sick.

Police were tonight pursuing a man with a Southern accent aged 25-30, last seen wearing a black jacket and black gloves as he made his getaway from the bank, on Patak Road near Karon Circle, along the beach road towards Patong.

Phuketwanstaff reporters were on the scene within minutes of the 8pm raid by the lone bank robber.

As Khun Wilaikan was closing the front door for the night, the robber slammed his way in, pushing Khun Wilaikan to the floor.

While she was on the floor, the robber switched out the light to avoid security cameras and put a knife to Khun Wilaikan's ribs.

''Give me the money,'' he yelled at the other bank staffer on duty, Amnard Ponparmoon,27, hurling a bag in his direction.

Khun Amnard stuff notes into the bag and the bandit made off with about two million baht.

Police Lieutenant Authewat Suwannarat from Chalong Police Station is heading investigations. Bank robberies are relatively rare on Phuket.

Scores of tourists walking around Karon's nightlife hub were probably not aware of the bank robbery. Within minutes, two visitors had dropped by the bank to ask what kind of exchange rate they could gain.